Apparatus for installing and removing flow valves

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for installing and removing flow valves in a well tubing having a plurality of flow control receiving stations offset from the tubing each of which is provided with a seat for a flow control unit including an elongated housing means with a shifting tool pivotally supported at its upper end to the housing means. Sleeve means slidably surrounds the housing means and shifting tool and is initially positioned to lock the pivotal support to thereby retain the shifting tool aligned with the housing means as the apparatus is lowered in well tubing with a wire line. The housing means carries spring urged guide means that are normally retracted within the housing by engagement with the sleeve means as the apparatus is lowered in the well tubing and the shifting tool is provided with spring urged cam means that is also retained within the shifting tool by the sleeve means as the apparatus is lowered in the well tubing. The well tubing is provided with a plurality of orienting means one of which is positioned immediately above each off-set flow control receiving station in the well tubing and when the predetermined off-set flow control receiving station is reached in which valve means is to be set or valve means removed therefrom the brake on the lowering cable is set so that downward movement of the housing means is arrested which enables the sleeve means to continue moving downward and thereby disengage from the spring urged guide means carried by the housing means; to unlock the pivotal support so that the shifting tool may move laterally; and alignes a slot in the sleeve means with the spring urged cam means of the shifting tool so that the cam means may move outwardly of the shifting tool to engage the well tubing wall and shift the shifting tool laterally. The spring urged guide means carried by the housing means engages the orienting guide in the well tubing to orient the shifting tool in a desired manner relative to the off-set section or station so that a flow control unit may be either installed therein or removed therefrom.

United States Patent [1 1 Outhouse APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVINGFLOW VALVES [75] Inventor: James V.- Outhouse, l-louma, La.

[73] Assigneez Production Specialties, Inc.,

Lafayette, La.

22 Filed: Feb. 7, 1973 21 App1.No.:330,291

52 us. C1. 166/1175 Primary ExaminerDavid H. Brown [57] ABSTRACT Anapparatus for installing and removing flow valves in a well tubinghaving a plurality of flow control receiving stations off-set from thetubing each of which is-pro'vided with a seat for a flow control unitincluding an elongated housing means with a shifting tool pivotallysupportedat its upper end to the housing means. Sleeve means slidablysurrounds the'housing means and shifting tool and is initiallypositioned to 1 Mar. 12, 1974 lock the pivotal support to thereby retainthe shifting vspring urged cam means that is also retained within theshifting tool by the sleeve means as the apparatus is lowered in thewell tubing.

The well tubing is provided with a plurality of orienting means one ofwhich is positioned immediately above each off-set flow controlreceiving station in the well tubing and when the predetermined off-setflow control receiving station is reached in which valve means is to beset or valve means removed therefrom the brake on the lowering cable isset so that downward movement of the housing means is arrested whichenables the sleeve means to continue moving downward and therebydisengage from the spring urged guide means carried by the housingmeans; to unlock the pivotal support so that the shifting tool may movelaterally; and alignes a slot in the sleevemeans with the spring urgedcam means of the shifting tool so that the cam means may move outwardlyof the shifting tool to engage the well tubing wall and shift theshifting tool laterally. The spring urged guide means carried by thehousing means engages the orienting guide in the well tubing to orientthe shifting tool in a desired manner relative to the off-set section orstation so that a flow control unit may be either installed therein orremoved therefrom.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures ,PATENTEBHAR 1 2 m4 SHEET 2.0? 3

PATENTED IIAR 12 I974 SHEET 3 IF 3 APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING ANDREMOVINGFLOW VALVES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The closest prior art with whichthe applicant isfamiliar is the U.S. Pat. to Beebe, et al, No.3,353,608. The present invention provides features not found in theprior art in that the operating components of the tool are kept covered,and are uncovered for operation of the invention merely by stoppingdownward movement of the apparatus in the well tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flow control valvehandling apparatus for a bypassing valve seat receiving station whichincludes housing means that pivotally supports a shifting tool at oneend. A sleeve is slidably carried on the shifting tool and the housingmeans and engages spring loaded guide means in the housing means tonormally retain it in retracted position. The sleeve means also locksthe pivotal sup- 1 port between the housing means and the shifting toolso that the shifting tool is aligned with the housing in the housingmeans to normally retain it in retracted position. The housing meansalso locks the pivotal support between the housing means and theshifting tool so that the shifting tool is aligned with the housingmeans as the apparatus is lowered in the well bore and the sleeve meansalso engages a spring loaded cam means carried by the shifting tool toretain it retracted within the shifting tool as the apparatus is loweredin the well bore. The sleeve means includes a pin engaging a slot on theshifting tool so that when movement of the housing means in the welltubing is stopped, the weight of the sleeve means causes the sleevemeans to slide longitudinally of the housing means and shifting tool ina predetermined aligned relationshipto disengage from the spring loadedguide means; to unlock the pivotal support between the housing means andthe shifting tool; and to align the slot in the sleeve with the springloaded cam means so that the spring loaded cam means may move outwardlyinto engagement with the well tubing and urge the shifting toollaterally relative to the housing means.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusfor installing and removing a flow valve in a well tubing having collarsand a plurality of flow control receiving stations which are off-setfrom the tubing by providing a housing means which pivotally supports ashifting tool, the housing means including sleeve means surrounding theshifting tool and the housing means to retain the shifting tool inretracted position and which will bypass the receiving sections as thehousing means is lowered in the well tubing and.

providing a means for moving the shifting tool away from the housingmeans for installing or removing a valve from a desired valve seat in apredetermined or desired flow control receiving station.

Still another object of the invention is to provide-an apparatus forinstalling and removing flow valves from a particular or desired off-setsection of a well tubing so that other off-set sections may be bypassedas desired, wherein such apparatus is constructed and arranged so thatoperation is initiated merely by stopping downward movement of theapparatus in the well string.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from consideration of thefollowing description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view, partly inelevation illustrating the housing means, the shifting toolpivotally'supported at one end thereon and the sleeve means positionedto engage the spring loaded guidemeans; to lock the pivotal supportmeans between the housing means and the shifting tool; and to retain aspring loaded cam mounted in the shifting tool in retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1,but illustrates the position of thesleeve means after movement of the housing means has been arrested bystopping the downward movement thereof as it is being lowered on a cableinto the well tubing and shows the spring loaded guide means movedradially outwardly from the housing means; the pivotal support exposedto enable the shifting tool to move laterally relative to the housingmeans and the cam in the shifting tool urged outwardly through a slot inthe sleeve means for engaging the well tubing to effect lateral movementof the shifting tool;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of FIG. 2 but rotated for an elevationalview of the cam means and the spring loaded guide means;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating the present inventionpositioned in a well tubing relative to an off-set flow controlreceiving section thereof for installing or removing a flow valve fromsuch off-set section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating an orienting and guide devicepositioned in the well tubing above each off-set section to enable thetool of the present invention to be properly oriented for installationor removal of a flow valve in such off-set section;

FIG. 6 illustrates one of the off-set sections of a well tubing with avalve pocket therein and the orienting guide illustrated in FIG. 5positioned thereabove; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, partly in elevation illustrating theposition of the sleeve means after the tool has been actuated to eitherinstall or remove a flow valve in a desired off-set section of the welltubing to engage the spring loaded cam carried by the shifting tool andmove it back into the shifting tool for removal of the apparatus fromthe well tubing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is first directed toFIG. 6 of the drawings wherein the well tubing is referred to generallyby the numeral 20. The well-tubing 20 includes a plurality of flowcontrol receiving stations or sections referred to generally at 21off-set from the tubing. Each station 21 is provided with a seatarrangement 22 for receiving a flow control valve. If desired, suitablemeans as referred to generally at 23 immediately above the seat aringthe tool of the present invention relative to the offset station 21 toenable a flow control unit to be installed into the seat arrangement 22or to be removed therefrom.

In FIG. 1 the presentinvention is referred to generally by the numeral30 and is shown as being suspended on a wire line 31. The apparatus ofthe present invention includes the housing means 34 with which the cable31 is connected at its upper end. A longitudinally extending recess 35is provided in the housing means 1 34, which recess is enlarged at eachend as shown at 36 and 37. An elongated guide 39 is carried in therecess 35 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and has its ends 40 and 41fitting in the enlarged recesses 36 and 37 at each end of the recess 35shown in FIG. 1

Theends 40 and 41 are in turn provided with recesses 42 and 43 whichreceive spring means 45 and 46 respectively which tend to urge theelongated guide 39 outwardly of the housing means 34 as will bedescribed hereinafter. Suitable means are provided for retaining theguide means 39 on the body 34 even when urged outwardly by the springs45 and 46 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, such means includingsuitable lock plates 50 carried on the housing means 34 by any suitablemeans such as screws 51, such lock plates 50 having a portion whichprojects into or over the recesses 36 and 37 respectively to engage theouter most ends 39' of the spring loaded guide, as illustrated in FIG. 2of the drawings.

It can be appreciated that when retracted the guide 39 is of a suitableconfiguration on its outer surface to conform with the circular housing34 as is the lock plates 50 carried thereby.

A shifting tool 60 is pivotally supported at 62' at its upper end to thehousing means 34 to enable the shifting tool 60 to move laterallyrelative to the housing means 34 in a manner as will be described ingreater detail hereinafter. The shifting tool 60 includes a cam 63pivotally mounted at 64 therein which cam 63 is engaged by spring means66 carried in the shifting tool to tend to urge such cam 63 outwardlyrelative to the body of the shifting tool 60 on which it is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 1 the elongated guide means 39 is engaged by theprojection 70 on the sleeve means 68 which sleeve means surrounds theshifting tool 60 so that the projection 70 engages the guide means 39and retains it in retracted position as the apparatus is lowered in thewell tubing on cable 31 as shown in FIG. 1.

The sleeve means 68 is hollow and circular in configuration and theprojection 70 at the upper end thereof extends upwardly from adjacentthe pivotal support 62 when the sleeve means 68 is in the position shownin FIG. 1 of the drawings. When the sleeve means 68 is in the positionshown in FIG. 1 of the drawings the circular portion of the sleeve means68 surrounds a portion of the housing means 34 and thepivotal support 62so that the pivotal support 62 is locked to align the shifting tool 60and housing means 34 relative to each other. Similarly, the sleeve means68 in such position engages the cam 63 and forces it against the actionof the spring 66 to a retracted position within the shifting tool asshown in FIG. 1. Frictional contact between sleeve means 68, cam 63 andguide 39 aid in retaining the sleeve means 68 in the position shown inFIG. 1 as the apparatus is lowered in the well tubing.

The sleeve means 68 includes a slot and pin means 76 are provided on thesleeve means 68 for fiting in the slot 77 in the shifting tool 60 sothat when the sleeve means 68 moves from the position shown in FIG. 1 tothat shown in FIG. 2 the sleeve means 68 slides longitudinally alonghousing means 34 and shifting tool 60 in a predetermined relationship sothat the slot means 75 aligns with the cam 63 to enable the cam 63 to beurged outwardly through the slot.75,by the spring 66 and against thewell tubing. Also,.the circular portion of the sleeve means 68 is movedbeneath the pivot connection 62 between the housing means 34 andshifting tool 60 so that such pivotal connection is now operable.Additionally, it will be noted that the extension 70 of the cylindricalsleeve means 68 is disengaged from the lower end of the guide means 39and the guide means 39 is urged outwardly of the housing means forpurposes which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In the use of the apparatus, it is lowered into the well tubing on thecable 31 until the particular or desired off-set flow control receivingstation 21 such as illustrated in FIG. 6 is approached. It can beappreciated that the housing means 34, shifting tool 60 and sleeve meansis of suitable longitudinal extent so as to span the off-set stations 21particularly where such off-set stations may be on the low side of ahole in a deviated well. I

It can be appreciated that from previous information relating to anyparticular well, the location of the offset station or section 21 inwhich a flow control apparatus is to be installed or removed is known.Therefore, by way of example only, approximately feet above suchlocation the brake is set on the wire line unit to retard the downwardmovement of the apparatus in the well tubing. When this occurs theweight of the sleeve means 68 causes it to continue to move downwardlongitudinally relative to housing means 34 and shifting tool 60 so thatsleeve means 68 moves from the position of FIG. 1 of the drawings tothat shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the guide means 39 has an elongatedconfiguration and continued lowering of the apparatus on the wire lineor cable 31 after sleeve means 68 has moved downwardly to expose guide39 moves the guide means 39 into the orienting guide and sleeve referredto generally at 25 arranged above the next off-set flow controlreceiving station as better seen in FIG. 4-. It will be noted that theconfiguration of the elongated guide 39 is such that it will moveagainst the tapered upper end 25a of the guide and orienting sleeve 25.As the apparatus is lowered, the guide 39 rides along the edges 25b ofthe tapered upper end 25a to rotate the housing means 34 and connectedshifting tool 60 until the guide means 39 moves into the slot 250connecting the tapered upper end 25a with the tapered lower end 25d ofsleeve 25 which has edges similar to edges 25b. The relationship of theguide means 39 on the housing 34 to the housing 34 and to theslot 25c-isillustrated more clearly in FIG. 4 as such movement occurs.

The swivel connection 62 is such that relative rotation between housingmeans 34 and shifting tool 60 is prevented, but such connectionaccomodates pivoting of the shifting tool 60.

When the apparatus is thus oriented by the guide means39 in slot 25c thecam 63 engages the wall of the off-set section 21 opposite the valveseat arrangement 22 and shifts or moves the shifting tool 60 toward thevalve or flow control seating arrangement 22 shown in FIG. 6 of thedrawingsjThe pivot connection 62 enables such movement to occur in orderthat a flow control arrangement may be either inserted into the valveseat arrangement 22 or removed therefrom as desired. It can beappreciated edges when a flow control arrangement is to be positioned inthe valve seat arrangement 22 of the off-set 21, a running too]illustrated at 90 is securred to the lower end of the sleeve means 68.Such running tool is of a well known configuration and supports a flowcontrol apparatus, or valve thereon, and enables such valve to be seatedin the seat arrangement 22.

If a valve or flow control apparatus is to be removed from the seatarrangement 22, then a pulling tool of well known configuration issubstituted for the running tool and is connected to the lower end ofsleeve 68 so that when the shifting tool 60 moves laterally towards thevalve seat arrangement 22 it will engage a valve, or flow control unitin the valve seat arrangement 22 and retract it from such seatarrangement.

The orienting guide means 25 or sub is positioned as mentionedpreviously, immediately above each off-set station 21 and it will benoted that the slot 25c is on the side of the well bore opposite valveseat arrangement 22 in each off-set portion 21 so that the apparatuswill be properly oriented when the guide means 39 is moved into the slot250. The guide and orienting sub 25 is of the same internal diameter asthe tubing so as to not interfere with passage of the present inventionor other tools downwardly through the well tubing.

After the flow control apparatus has either been seated in the seatarrangement 22, or engaged for removal therefrom, a downward jar may beexerted on the apparatus and this shears pin 76 so that sleeve 68 movesdown relative to cam 63. This position is illustrated in FIG. 7 of thedrawings and it will be noted that the upper end of the slot 75 istapered as shown at 75a for engaging the surface 63a of the cam 63 toaid in moving it back into retracted position in the shifting tool 60.

This enables the apparatus to then be removed from the well tubing.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and

various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made'without departingfrom the spirit of the inventionv What is claimed is:

l. A flow control unit handling apparatus adapted for use in placing aflow control unit in a well tubing having collars and having a pluralityof flow control receiving sections off-set from the tubing each of whichis provided with a seat for a flow control unit and for removing saidunit from said seat comprising:

a. an elongated housing means;

b. a shifting tool pivotally supported at its upper end to said housingmeans;

c. sleeve means slidably mounted on said housing means and shifting toolnormally locking said pivotal support to thereby retain said shiftingtool aligned with said housing means as the apparatus is lowered in thewell tubing;

d. spring urged guide means carried by said housing means, said guidemeans normally retracted in said housing by engagement with said sleevemeans as the apparatus is lowered in the well tubing;

e. spring urged cam means carried by said shifting tool and normallyretained retracted in said shifting tool against the force of saidspring, said cam means in retracted position in said shifting toolengaging said sleeve means;

f. said sleeve means having a slot therein for aligning with said cammeans;

g. said sleeve means upon arresting downward movement of said housingmeans in the well tubing shifting longitudinally along said housingmeans to disengage from said spring urged guide means to enable saidguide means to move outwardly from said housing means; to align the slotin said sleeve means with said cam means to enable said cam means tomove outwardly into engagement with the well tubing; and to release saidpivotal support whereby said cam means may shift said shifting toollaterally of the well bore.

2. The invention of claim 1 including orienting guide means carried bythe well tubing and engageable with said guide means carried by saidhousing to orient the apparatus in the well tubing.

3. The invention of claim 1 including cooperating pin andslot means insaid sleeve means and shifting tool to guide said sleeve means as itslides longitudinally of said housing means and shifting tool, said pinadapted to shear whereupon said sleeve means engages said cam means andurges it into retracted position in said shifting tool so that theapparatus may be retrieved from the well tubing.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3'796'259 Dated March 1974 Inventor(s) JAMES V. OUTHOUSE It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 5, line 16, change "edges" to -that- Signed and sealed this 17thday of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents 70PM Dc-1050 (10-69) uscoMM-Dc eoa'lo-peo US. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: II, O3-33l.

1. A flow control unit handling apparatus adapted for use in placing aflow control unit in a well tubing having collars and having a pluralityof flow control receiving sections off-set from the tubing each of whichis provided with a seat for a flow control unit and for removing saidunit from said seat comprising: a. an elongated housing means; b. ashifting tool pivotally supported at its upper end to said housingmeans; c. sleeve means slidably mounted on said housing means andshifting tool normally locking said pivotal support to thereby retainsaid shifting tool aligned with said housing means as the apparatus islowered in the well tubing; d. spring urged guide means carried by saidhousing means, said guide means normally retracted in said houSing byengagement with said sleeve means as the apparatus is lowered in thewell tubing; e. spring urged cam means carried by said shifting tool andnormally retained retracted in said shifting tool against the force ofsaid spring, said cam means in retracted position in said shifting toolengaging said sleeve means; f. said sleeve means having a slot thereinfor aligning with said cam means; g. said sleeve means upon arrestingdownward movement of said housing means in the well tubing shiftinglongitudinally along said housing means to disengage from said springurged guide means to enable said guide means to move outwardly from saidhousing means; to align the slot in said sleeve means with said cammeans to enable said cam means to move outwardly into engagement withthe well tubing; and to release said pivotal support whereby said cammeans may shift said shifting tool laterally of the well bore.
 2. Theinvention of claim 1 including orienting guide means carried by the welltubing and engageable with said guide means carried by said housing toorient the apparatus in the well tubing.
 3. The invention of claim 1including cooperating pin and slot means in said sleeve means andshifting tool to guide said sleeve means as it slides longitudinally ofsaid housing means and shifting tool, said pin adapted to shearwhereupon said sleeve means engages said cam means and urges it intoretracted position in said shifting tool so that the apparatus may beretrieved from the well tubing.